Debora Cheney
Larry and Ellen Foster Communications
Librarian and head,
News and Microforms Library
Years Ago... The Historical Digital Collegian Database
The Historical Digital Collegian database, now covering 100 years (1887-1987), allows us to re-visit and re-remember Penn State history through the eyes of the student newspaper.
The Lion's Suit
If it is true “clothes make the man,” then it is surely true the suit makes the Nittany Lion. Let us take a closer look at the Nittany Lion’s suit as seen through the pages of 100 years of the Historical Digital Collegian database. Penn State’s campus newspaper allows us to step back in time and catch a unique glimpse of the Nittany Lion’s suit and the men who have filled its paws.
‘Needed: One “Lion” ’ (10/2/1946)
Today, a Nittany Lion tryout is a well-documented and competitive event consisting of a written application, intensive interviews, a cheerleading tryout, and a “live” tryout in the Lion suit at a sporting evening. It was not always so. Arthur Miller’s Between the Lions column gives us a different perspective on the necessary qualifications for potential Nittany Lion candidates in 1946. In fact, a suitable Nittany Lion was needed soon that year--football season was about to begin!
“To meet the requirements necessary for the wearer of the Lion suit, candidates must be at least six feet tall, weigh not more than 170 pounds, and possess a certain sense of humor. Interested men report to Coach Gene Wettsone in his Rec hall office as soon as possible.” (Between the Lions: Needed One “Lion” by Arthur Miller, 10/2/1946)
The “size restriction” was not all that unusual, even in 1970: “The uniform best fits a person with a height from five-feet-six to five-feet-eight.” (The Lion Celebrates a golden era, 10/1/1970) Lion Suits, apprently come in a limited size range.
“Help Clothe The Lion” (9/29/1939)
Over the years, the Nittany Lion’s suit is described in many Historical Digital Collegian articles as being: worn, tattered, shabby, patched, fraying, and, most sadly, with its foot “falling off" (The Lion Needs a Suit: Report from the Druids, 12/5/1947) 
The sorry state of the Nittany Lion’s suit and its regular need for repair and replacement is a running theme in the campus newspaper. Frequent calls for support from the student body to help fund the replacement of the Lion’s suit are sprinkled throughout nearly every year’s issues of the campus newspaper. Especially after the Lion became an expected sight at football games and other sporting events about 1922.
“Donations are needed if students are to see the Lion cavorting around the football field next year”—according to John Bengalian, president of the Druids, which was sponsoring one drive. (Delta Sig Leads Lion Suit Drive, 11/21/1947)
The possibility the Nittany Lion would (or would not) be able to make an appearance because of the condition of his suit was newsworthy:
“The College’s traditional lion has received a new suit of clothes, which he will don for the first time on Saturday afternoon at the Bucknell-Penn State footabll game.” (Lion Cavorts in New Suit at Bison Game, 9/29/1948)Penn State’s Lion may appear only at four football games this fall. His suit’s too shabby and he can’t afford a new one. (Shabby Suit Hinders Career of State’s Lion, 9/20/1952)
“We’re Not Asking for Dollars…” (12/5/1947)
Calls for Penn State students to contribute their “pennies, nickels and dimes” (Delta Sig Leads Lion Suit Drive, 11/21/1947) to replace the Nittany Lion’s suit appear regularly in the pages of the Historical Digital Collegian database.
“Now if every student in school would donate just one nickel for the cause, we could get the thing [Lion suit] in time for Alumni Homecoming.” (Between the Lions: Help Clothe The Lion by Bob Wilson, 9/29/1939)
It is hard to imagine that it would take the student body’s nickels and dimes to replace the Nittany Lion’s suit but, clearly, the need was real. Much of this philanthrophic effort was led by fraternities, including the Delta Sigs (aka “the Druids”). Later, the Lion suits were funded by the Athletic Association until finally a “permanent suit” was funded by the All-College Cabinet. (Permanent ‘Suit’ Fund Approved by Cabinet, 10/25/1952). This permanent funding may likely have been a response to the frequent underlying references in many news articles about whether students should even be funding the replacement of the Lion’s suit, in the first place:
Sure, we could leave it up to the school and possibly get it, but this is a student’s school, and if we want something we should go out and get it. And we want a new Lion’s suit.” (The Lion Needs a Suit, 12/5/1947)
Admittedly providing a Lion suit or even having a Lion to represent the College at student events is not as important as a radio station, press, or scholarship. But since the animal is a symbol of the College at home and away affairs, he ought to be respectably dressed. Now that the senior glass gift estimate has been raised, a chance is provided for giving the Lion a suit in whch he can cavort until a permanent suit-buying method is set up.” (Fraying Nittany Lion Could Use Gift Money, 5/16/1952)
What was really hurtful was the inevitable comparison of The Nittany Lion to other mascots, particularly the Pitt Panther.
“We have an undefeated football team and a great band. But did you notice the beautiful suit of Panther fur that Pitt has? I saw our Lion and the Pitt Panther standing togher, and there was no comparison.” (The Lion Needs a Suit by Joseph D. Stein, 12/5/1947)
At one point, the Nittany Lion’s suit was so shabby, that a local fur company came to the rescue:
“Feeling sorry for the Lion’s sad condition, Clearfied Furriers, Clearfield [PA] gave the Lion an old coat made from an Asiatic sheep fur. The fur has been used to patch the shabby suit …” It was a “lion in sheeps clothing that “pranc[ed] down Beaver Field [that] afternoon.” (Sheep’s Clothing is Latest Style for Shabby Lion, 11/15/1952)
Fur Samples Obtained for Lion Suit (1/16/1953)
Just how much did a Lion suit cost? In 1939 it is reported, the goal was $200; by 1947 it was $500. In 1948 the Athletic Association purchased a new suit for $350. In 1970, about $250. Over the years, different sources were used to make the new suit. In 1953, the then Nittany Lion, Alex Gregal, initiated his own fund raising effort to replace the Lion’s suit. Finally, fur samples were received and evaluated and Chenko Studio (with offices in New York and Hollywood) and costume designer to Warner Brothers, Paramount Movie Studios and other notable big stage and screen events of the 1950’s, even “visited the Lions’ cages in the New York zoo for appropriate models. (Fur Samples Obtained for Suit, 1/16/1953) The new Chenko Studio version of the Lion suit was proudly modeled that spring and reportedly cost $500 (“Contributions amounting to $599.25 were collected for the suit…in a fund drive initiated by Alex Gregal, who portrays the Lion.”)
“A step ahead of the spring fashion parade, the Nittany Lion displayed his new finery Saturday night at the Penn State-Army wrestling match in Recreation Hall. Bearing a sign, ‘Its here—the new 1953 model’ and ‘Thank yo’ all kindly,’ he pranced down the center of the floor pausing to pay his respects…(Spectators See New Lion Suit at Army Meet, 3/10/1953)
Cumbersome Suit Weighs 20 Pounds (10/28/1950)
What was it like to wear the Lion’s suit? Some athletic and gymnastic skill was needed to manage and wear the Lion’s suit. Jack “Cack” Waters, a hopeful “sports announcer after he graduates” love[d] his job, as the grid mascot, but acknowledge the suit was “uncomfortable,” in part due to its weight (20 pounds) but also:
“Although heavy, the main reason for the suit being uncomfortable is a lack of air circulation within it. The only openings are in the head and feet. The Lion controls its eyes and mouth by cords.” (Nittany Lion Mascot Likes His Job Making People laugh, Hugging Girls, 10/28/1950)
Nittany Lion Norm Constantine reported the first time he put on the suit during tryouts” “I went down to do a push-up and I smacked the nose. And they [the judges] were there and I thought that they thought I was pretty clumsy…I was thinking of all the stuff the Lion was supposed to do, and that I can’t do that stuff … I started getting really nervous.” (Nittany Lion Mascot; A “tail’ of 2 Images: Interview, 1/21/1980).
No ‘Lion’ Life as PSU Mascot Not Easy
The Nittany Lion’s antics are performed, regardless of the weight and lack of air inside the Lion suit. “Cack” Waters was reportedly was one of the “biggest hits” of the season, particularly at the 1950 Army-Penn State Game. “Cack” “jumped headlong into the Army stands” where the “cadets passed his stiffened body hand-to-hand and from row-to-row” to the top of the stands and back down. Then, with a mighty roar, or a reasonable facsimile, our hero challenged the entire cadet stands” (10/28/1950) Not bad, for someone in a Lion’s suit with very little ventilation while he is controlling the eyes and mouth with cords!
But as it became a tradition for the Nittany Lion to be passed up the stands, later Lions, including Norm Constantine acknowledged “ the “physical abuse the Lion gets when being passed up the stands can be a bit rough” (Look out, guys: next Nittany Lion may be a Lioness, 2/14/1980) Clearly, wearing the Lion suit takes its toll on each Nittany Lion. Clifford Fiscus reportedly lost “20 pounds in water weight that night [of his “live tryout” at a Penn State-Slippery Rock Lady Lion basketball game] because only the mouth of the Lion suit provides ventilation.” (Lion Mascot begins reign to inspire PSU Athletes 4/1/1977). Doug Skinner reported he “loses an average of 7 to 10 pounds every game because it is about 30 degrees warmer inside the lion suit.” (No ‘lion’ life as PSU mascot not easy, 10/17/1986) The Lion’s job, as Roy Scott indicated is more than fun and games:
“He must be skilled in all sports, so he can participate in all events. He must be a comedian to keep the crowds entertained when the game gets slow and he must be good with children” (Lion Job More than fun and Games, 10/9/1981)
Its no wonder each Lion talks of the grueling physical challenges of life within the Lion’s suit. They also talk of the transformation that takes place when they put on the Lion’s suit and their efforts to entertain the crowds who attend Penn State sporting and charity events.
Perhaps Gene Wettstone, the gymnastics coach who chose the Lion for many years, had it right. He considered “size, imagination, and theatrical potentialities”—to best meet the needs of Nittany Lion (10/28/1950), but then again, there wouldn’t be a Nittany Lion without that suit.
For an inside and slightly more humorous view of the Nittany Lion tryout process, see the 3-part story on “gonzo” journalist Bob Carville’s efforts to become a Nittany Lion in the Historical Digital Collegian database.
- Beer-guzzline Writer ‘battles” to become “The Lion’ 4/10/1979, p. 1
- Mascot ‘hopeful’ gets in shape for Grueling Audition, 4/11/1979, p. 1
- Lion Hopeful Reaches Finals, Finds It’s not his style, 4/12/1979, p. 1